Chapters 27–30

Summary: Chapter 27

On the way to Constantinople with Cacambo and his master,
Candide and Martin learn that Cacambo bought Cunégonde and the old
woman from Don Fernando, but that a pirate abducted them and sold
them as slaves. Cunégonde has grown horribly ugly, but Candide resolves
to love her anyway. Candide purchases Cacambo’s freedom. Upon arriving
in Turkey, Candide recognizes two galley slaves as the baron and
Pangloss. Candide also buys their freedom.

Summary: Chapter 28

While the group travels to rescue Cunégonde, the baron
and Pangloss tell their stories. The baron bears no ill will toward
Candide for stabbing him. After his wound healed, Spanish troops
attacked him and sent him to jail in Buenos Aires. The baron eventually returned
to Rome to serve his Jesuit order, but was caught bathing naked
with a young Turkish man and sent to the galleys.

The executioner who was to hang Pangloss was inexperienced
in hangings and made the noose badly, so Pangloss survived. A surgeon
bought Pangloss’s body for dissection. Pangloss regained consciousness
after being cut open, and the startled surgeon sewed him closed
again. Pangloss then traveled to Constantinople. He entered a mosque
and saw a pretty young woman drop her nosegay from her bosom. Pangloss
picked it up and returned it to her bosom “with the most respectful
attentions.” Her male companion thought he was taking too long with
it, so he had Pangloss arrested. Pangloss was then whipped and sent
to the galleys. However, he still believes that pre-established
harmony is the “finest notion in the world.”

Summary: Chapter 29

Candide purchases the old woman, Cunégonde, and a small
farm. Cunégonde reminds Candide of his promise to marry her. Though horrified
by her ugliness, Candide does not dare refuse. However, the baron
again declares that he will not live to see his sister marry beneath
her rank.

Summary: Chapter 30

I should like to know which is worse,
being raped a hundred times by negro pirates . . . or . . . just
sitting here and doing nothing?

Pangloss draws up a formal treatise declaring that the
baron has no rights over his sister. Martin is in favor of drowning
the baron. Cacambo suggests that they return the baron to the galleys
without telling Cunégonde, and that is the course they choose.

Cunégonde grows uglier and more disagreeable every day. Cacambo
works in the garden of the small farm. He hates the work and curses
his fate. Pangloss is unhappy because he has no chance of becoming
an important figure in a German university. Martin is patient because
he imagines that in any other situation he would be equally unhappy.
They all debate philosophy while the misery of the world continues.
Pangloss still maintains that everything is for the best but no
longer truly believes it. Paquette and Giroflée arrive at the farm,
having squandered the money Candide gave them. They are still unhappy,
and Paquette is still a prostitute.